Retractable luggage handle with a handle grip extended from top connecting portion of two pulling rods

ABSTRACT

Provided is a retractable luggage handle system having a T-shaped or hollow rectangular handle grip extended from a top connecting portion of pulling rods. In one embodiment, pressing the push button will activate a spring-based transmission mechanism to push down a rod and an n-shaped pressing member to cause recesses of two levers engaged with legs of the pressing member to pivot clockwise to pull up one ends of connecting rods for unlocking locking devices. In another embodiment, pressing the push button will push down an n-shaped control member to contact and push down one ends of the connecting rods for unlocking the locking devices. The invention enables handle rods to extend or retract by one single touch manipulating the handle grip by a single hand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to retractable handle of a wheeled luggage case and more particularly to such a handle having two pulling rods and a T-shaped or hollow rectangular handle grip extended from a top connecting portion of the pulling rods such that an extending or retracting operation of the pulling rods can be done by manipulating the handle grip by a single hand.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventionally, a retractable handle of a wheeled luggage case having a single pulling rod has a shape of T. Such is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,434,790. For maintaining structural strength of the handle, the single pulling rod typically has a diameter at least two times larger than that of pulling rod of the popular n-shaped handle. This can undesirably consume material.

Moreover, a locking device of the n-shaped handle is different from that of the T-shaped or hollow rectangular handle grip extended from a top connecting portion of the pulling rods. Typically, the locking device of the latter (i.e., the T-shaped or hollow rectangular handle grip extended from a top connecting portion of the pulling rods) is applicable to itself only. That is, it is not applicable to the locking device of the n-shaped handle. Moreover, as far as I am aware, there is no significant progress in the development of the locking device of the later. Thus, continuing improvements in the exploitation of the locking device of the later are constantly being sought.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a retractable handle system of a luggage case, comprising two pulling rods and a handle grip extended from a top connecting portion of the pulling rods such that an extending or retracting operation of the pulling rods can be done by a single one touch manipulating the handle grip by a single hand.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a retractable handle system of a luggage case, comprising two pulling rods and a handle grip extended from a top connecting portion of the pulling wherein the handle grip is a T-shaped, a hollow rectangular member, or any of other predetermined shaped members.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a retractable handle system of a luggage case, comprising two pulling rods and a handle grip extended from a top connecting portion of the pulling wherein the handle grip is adapted to swivel after unlocking the pulling rods, thereby facilitating the grasping of the handle grip in any direction and position by the hand while towing on a supporting ground.

In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a retractable handle system of a luggage case, comprising two parallel pulling rods each comprising a support tube and one or more sliding tubes each slidable in either the support tube or a lower one of the sliding tubes; a handle grip comprising a top push button, a hollow cylinder extended from its bottom to interconnect the handle grip and a top connecting portion of the pulling rods, a spring-based transmission mechanism having one end connected to the push button, and a rod passed through the cylinder and having an upper end slidably connected to the other end of the transmission mechanism; a control mechanism within the connecting portion and comprising a spring-depressible, n-shaped pressing member engaged with bottom of the rod in a nonoperating position, and two levers each including a recess at one end with the leg; and two connecting rods each having one end fastened at the other end of the lever and the other end coupled to a locking device, whereby one single pressing the push button will activate the transmission mechanism to push down the rod and the pressing member to cause the recesses to pivot clockwise to pull up one ends of two connecting rods for unlocking the locking devices and enabling the handle rods to extend or retract thereafter.

In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a retractable handle system of a luggage case, comprising two parallel pulling rods each comprising a support tube and one or more sliding tubes each slidable in either the support tube or a lower one of the sliding tubes; a handle grip comprising a spring depressible, T-shaped push button, a hollow cylinder extended from its bottom to interconnect the handle grip and a top connecting portion of the pulling rods; an n-shaped control member secured to a longitudinal portion of the push button; and two connecting rods each having one end disposed proximate either projecting end of the control member and the other end coupled to a locking device, whereby one single pressing the push button will push down the control member to contact and push down one ends of two connecting rods for unlocking the locking devices simultaneously and enabling the handle rods to extend or retract thereafter.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of hollow rectangular handle grip mountable on a top connecting portion of two pulling rods of a retractable handle of wheeled luggage case according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the handle system in FIG. 1; FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of the handle grip, the connecting portion, and other associated members in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the handle grip, the connecting portion, and an upper portion of the pulling rods in FIG. 1, where the push button is in a nonoperating position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, where the push button is in an operating position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a wheeled luggage case incorporating the handle grip of the invention shown in FIG. 1, where a swiveling of the handle grip is illustrated after unlocking the handle;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of T-shaped handle grip mountable on a top connecting portion of two pulling rods of a retractable handle of wheeled luggage case according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the handle system in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the handle grip, the connecting portion, and an upper portion of the pulling rods, where the push button is in a nonoperating position;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, where the push button is in an operating position; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the handle system in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a retractable handle system of wheeled luggage constructed in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The handle system comprises a hollow rectangular handle grip 10 extended from a top connecting portion 21 of two parallel pulling rods of a handle 20, and a control mechanism 30 enclosed by the connecting portion 21. Each component is discussed in detailed below.

The handle grip 10 comprises a grip portion 11, a bottom extending hollow cylinder 12 interconnected the handle grip 10 and the connecting portion 21, the cylinder 12 including a neck 121C and a circular bottom enlargement with a plurality of teeth 121D and alternate indents 121E formed around its bottom, and a transmission mechanism 13 including a top push button 14 having a bottom protrusion 142 having an inclined bottom surface, an internal cavity 15 having an inclined wall 152 with the inclined bottom surface of the protrusion 142 slidably engaged therewith, a lower sliding block 17, a steel wire 16 having one enlarged end 161 fastened in the cavity 15 and the other end secured to the sliding block 17, a spring 17A having one end anchored in an inner wall of the grip portion 11 and the other end secured to the sliding block 17, and a rod 18 passed through the cylinder 12 and having an upper portion extended into the bottom of the grip portion 11 to have its pointed end urged against a bottom valley 178 of the sliding block 17.

The handle 20 further comprises left and right flexible connecting rods 22, a bezel 23, a surface adapting member 23A shaped to fit on the bezel 23, left and right sliding tubes 24, left and right locking devices 80 each disposed in a lower portion of the sliding tube 24, left and right support tubes 25 for permitting the sliding tubes 24 to slide therein, left and right sleeves 25A each anchored on top of the support tube 25, and a support 26 of L-section secured to bottoms of the support tubes 25.

The locking device 80 comprises a locking housing 81, a locking spring 82, and a locking block 83. Both the locking device 80 and the handle 20 are well known. Thus a detailed description thereof is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

The control mechanism 30 is a housing and comprises two mated half portions 31 and 31A. Note that only the first half portion 31 will be described in detail below for the sake of brevity. The control mechanism 30 further comprises an elongate pressing member 32 disposed across two aligned indents 121E and fastened thereby in a nonoperating position, the pressing member 32 including two legs 321 at both ends and a tab 322 on bottom, a seat 33 of U section under the pressing member 32 and including a bottom projection 331, a U-shaped groove 333, and an indent 334 on center of bottom of the groove 333 with the tab 322 fitted therein for coupling the pressing member 32 and the seat 33 together, a torsion spring 34 having an upper end put on the projection 331, left and right levers 35 each including a central hole 350 with a pin 37 pivotably disposed therein by inserting through an aperture 325 of the second half portion 31A, a well 351 at one end, a slit 352 at a wall of the well 351 with one enlarged end 221 of the connecting rod 22 passed the slit 352 to anchor in the well 351, and an arcuate recess 353 at the other end with the leg 321 engaged therewith.

The first half portion 31 comprises a projected top frame 311 of half circle, a small portion 312 in the frame 311, a large portion 313 under the small portion 312 with the neck 121C fitted in a joining portion of the portions 312 and 313, a recessed portion 314 under the larger portion 313 with a lower end of the spring 34 anchored therein, a plurality of pegs 317 inserted into the holes 350 to pivotably secure to the pins 37 in the holes 350, and a plurality of hollow, cylindrical members 315 and 316 inserted into a plurality of holes 326 on the second half portion 31A to be threadedly secured thereto by means of a plurality of screws 36 (i.e., the first and second half portions 31 and 31A are secured together).

An operation of the invention will now be described in detail below by referring to FIG. 4. Press the push button 14 to lower the protrusion 142 to cause the inclined wall 152 to move leftward. This in turn pulls the wire 16 to move the sliding block 17 rightward by expanding the spring 17A. This in turn pushes down the rod 18 and thus the pressing member 32. The spring 34 is then compressed by the seat 33 due to the engagement of the seat 33 and the pressing member 32. And the inner recesses 353 in turn pivot clockwise about the pegs 317. That is, the outer wells 351 also pivot clockwise to pull the connecting rods 22 upward. As a result, the locking devices 80 are unlocked by disengaging the locking blocks 83 from apertures in the sliding tubes 24 due to the coupling of the connecting rods 22 and the locking blocks 83. The sliding tubes 24 are thus able to retract or extend until the locking blocks 83 enter into apertures in the support tubes 25 for locking again. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the downward moved pressing member 32 clear the indents 121E (i.e., disengagement). As a result, the handle grip 10 is able to rotate about the extending cylinder 12 for being adapted to the grasping of the handle grip 10 in any direction by the hand. Referring to FIGS. 6 to 10, a retractable handle system of wheeled luggage constructed in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The handle system comprises a handle grip assembly 40 comprising an I-shaped member 41 including an upper grip member 41A including a top central opening 410 and two apertures 411 at both sides of the opening 410, and a lower body 41B including a top plate 414 having a central hole 414A and two apertures 414B at both sides of the hole 414A, an intermediate neck 415, and a lower enlargement 416 including an interior space 417 and two holes 419 through front and rear sides; a push button 50 including a top trigger member 51 fitted in the opening 410, a post 52 having inner threads extended downwardly from the trigger member 51 through the neck 415, a spring 53 put on the post 52 and mounted in the opening 410, and two screws 54 driven through the apertures 411 into the apertures 414B for fastening the upper grip member 41A and the plate 414 together; a control mechanism 60 disposed within the space 417 and including an n-shaped member 61 having a top central through hole 62 and two side arms 63, and a screw 64 driven through the hole 62 into the post 52 for threadedly securing the control mechanism 60 to the push button 50; a connecting member 70A including a central channel 71, two side channels 72 with upper portions of two upper sliding tubes 74 disposed therein, and two holes 73 each laterally passed the side channel 72 such that two screws 418 can be driven through the holes 419 and 73 and the upper sliding tubes 74 for fastening the body 41B, the connecting member 70A, and the upper sliding tubes 74 (i.e., two pulling rods) together.

In addition to the upper sliding tube 74, each pulling rod further comprises a bottom support tube 77 having its bottom secured by a lower support 78B on a bottom of luggage case and its top secured by an upper support 78A, a lower sliding tube 76 slidable along and within the support tube 77, and an intermediate sliding tube 75 slidable along and within the lower sliding tube 77. Also, the upper sliding tube 74 is slidable along and within the intermediate sliding tube 75. Moreover, a pair of connecting rods 79 each has one end disposed in the side channel 72 and the other end coupled to a locking device 80A. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a pressing of the push button 50 (i.e., the trigger member 51) will push the control mechanism 60 down to contact and push down one ends of both connecting rods 79 until a bottom of the transverse portion of the control mechanism 60 is stopped by top of the central channel 71. As an end, the locking devices 80A are unlocked for enabling a pulling up or pushing down of the handle rods thereafter (see FIG. 10).

In other embodiments, the upper grip member 41A and the body 41B are integrally formed. Moreover, the enlargement 416 is directly secured to the upper sliding tubes 74, i.e., the connecting member 70A is eliminated. Further, the post 52 and the control mechanism 60 are formed integrally. That is, the post 52 and the n-shaped member 61 are integral to form an inverted Y-shaped member in which a bottom tab of the trigger member 51 is adapted to press top of the inverted Y-shaped member in the push button 50 pressing operation.

In either embodiment, the purpose of extending or retracting the pulling rods can be achieved by manipulating the handle grip by a single hand.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims. 

1. A retractable handle system of a luggage case, comprising: two parallel pulling rods each comprising a support tube and one or more sliding tubes each slidable in either the support tube or a lower one of the sliding tubes; a handle grip comprising a top push button, a hollow cylinder extended from its bottom to interconnect the handle grip and a top connecting portion of the pulling rods, a spring-based transmission mechanism having one end connected to the push button, and a rod passed through the cylinder and having an upper end slidably connected to the other end of the transmission mechanism; a control mechanism within the connecting portion and comprising a spring-depressible, n-shaped pressing member engaged with bottom of the rod in a nonoperating position, and two levers each including a recess at one end with a leg; and two connecting rods each having one end fastened at the other end of the lever and the other end coupled to a locking device, whereby pressing the push button will activate the transmission mechanism to push down the rod and the pressing member to cause the recesses to pivot clockwise to pull up one ends of the connecting rods for unlocking the locking devices and enabling the handle rods to extend or retract thereafter.
 2. The retractable handle system of claim 1, wherein the handle grip is a hollow rectangular member.
 3. The retractable handle system of claim 1, wherein the downward moved pressing member is adapted to clear bottom of the cylinder for enabling the handle grip to swivel about the cylinder.
 4. A retractable handle system of a luggage case, comprising: two parallel pulling rods each comprising a support tube and one or more sliding tubes each slidable in either the support tube or a lower one of the sliding tubes; a handle grip comprising a spring depressible, T-shaped push button, a hollow cylinder extended from its bottom to interconnect the handle grip and a top connecting portion of the pulling rods; an n-shaped control member secured to a longitudinal portion of the push button; and two connecting rods each having one end disposed proximate either projecting end of the control member and the other end coupled to a locking device, whereby pressing the push button will push down the control member to contact and push down one ends of the connecting rods for unlocking the locking devices and enabling the handle rods to extend or retract thereafter.
 5. The retractable handle system of claim 4, wherein the handle grip is a T-shaped member. 